A lot of people dream about studying abroad. Whether they are still students or currently working, many people would immediately grab the chance to study in a different country, if the opportunity presents itself to them.

The thought of studying abroad can really be quite exciting. And students can really gain a lot of benefits when they do decide to take up and complete a course in a foreign country. However, studying abroad also has some cons.

If you are also thinking about studying abroad, you would do well to consider the different pros and cons that come with this option first before making your final decision. And below are some of the noteworthy advantages and disadvantages of studying in a different country that you should bear in mind:

Pros

• You get to go on an exciting adventure. This is one of the most desirable benefits of studying abroad: you get to stay in a different and strange country and get to explore the whole place. You have the opportunity to see and visit new tourist spots, try new cuisine and to engage in new activities that you have never tried before.

• You will achieve a greater level of independence and self-reliance. When you study in a country where you don't know anyone, you will learn to be more independent and to rely on yourself. This means you will learn how to do your own laundry or cook since you're not living with your mom anymore. And you will learn to rely more on yourself while you are in a foreign country.

• You get to make new friends. You will be able to widen your social circle when you study abroad. You can create lasting friendships with other local students and your classmates who come from different countries as well.

• You will learn more about a different culture. Aside from the formal education you will be getting, you will learn about new customs and a different way of living. You can even learn a new language and some other skills which can help you greatly in the future.

Cons

• You will be far away from your home and familiar surroundings. Living in a different country will definitely test your limits. You will be confronted with new cuisines, with new ways of living and new customs, with new people, and even with language barriers. All of these can be very difficult and stressful to deal with and if you are not tough, you might just cave in to all these hardships and find yourself abandoning the course you signed up for in this foreign country.

• The expenses. If you're not careful with choosing the course you will be taking up and the country where you will study, you will find this whole endeavor costly. The course fees may be expensive and the overall cost of living in a different country might just be expensive as well. As such, it is important that you put some thought into the course you want to take up and the country where you will be studying.

• Ambiguity with your post-graduation plans. After completing your course, you might become undecided about your future plans. Should you return to your home country to seek employment? Or should you try your luck in the country where you completed your course? If you decide to stay in the country where you just graduated, bear in mind that there will be residency and work criteria or requirements you will need to meet as soon as you are no longer a full-time student.